Definition

1. Noun:

   • A band worn around the neck: A collar is a band of material, such as cloth, leather, or metal, that is part of a piece of clothing (like a shirt or coat) or is placed around an animal's neck.
   • A restraining or identifying band: A collar can be a band placed around an animal's neck for control, identification, or as part of a harness.
   • A part of a machine: In mechanics, a collar is a short ring or band fastened around a rod or shaft to limit movement, guide it, or secure another part.
   • An act of arrest (informal): In informal usage, a "collar" can refer to the act of apprehending or arresting someone, especially a criminal.
   • A figurative restraint: A collar can metaphorically represent a restriction or control placed on something.

2. Verb:

   • To put a collar on: To furnish or fit something, typically an animal, with a collar.
   • To seize or apprehend (informal): To grab someone by the neck or collar, or more broadly, to arrest or take someone into custody.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He straightened his shirt collar before the interview.
  • The dog's collar has its name and address on a tag.
  • A metal collar was used to secure the bearing to the shaft.
  • The detective made a quick collar of the suspect.

• Verb:

  • Remember to collar the new puppy so it can wear an ID tag.
  • The officer managed to collar the thief as he tried to escape.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in collar": To be actively working or employed.

  • He's been in collar at the factory for twenty years.

• "to be out of collar": To be unemployed or without work.

  • Since the store closed, he's been out of collar.

• "to work against the collar": To work with great difficulty or strain.

  • Finishing this project on time meant working against the collar all week.

Variants and Related Words

• Dog collar (n): A collar for a dog; also, informally, a clerical collar worn by some clergy.
• Blue-collar (adj): Relating to manual or industrial work.
  • Blue-collar workers
• White-collar (adj): Relating to professional, administrative, or clerical work.
  • White-collar crime
• Collared (adj): Having a collar or of a specified collar type.
  • A collared shirt

Synonyms

• Neckband (n): A band around the neck of a garment.
• Choker (n): A close-fitting necklace or collar.
• Apprehension, Arrest (n): For the informal noun meaning of capture.
• Seize, Apprehend (v): For the verb meaning of capture.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Collar someone (for something) (informal): To stop someone in order to talk to them, often to get information or to reprimand them.
  • The teacher collared me after class to ask about my homework.

Related Idioms

• Hot under the collar: Angry, agitated, or embarrassed.
  • He got very hot under the collar during the argument.
• To slip the collar: To escape from control or restraint.
  • The company slipped the collar of government regulation.

Noun

1. the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
   • the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar
2. a figurative restraint
   • asked for a collar on program trading in the stock market
   • kept a tight leash on his emotions
   • he's always gotten a long leash
3. necklace that fits tightly around a woman's neck
4. a band of leather or rope that is placed around an animal's neck as a harness or to identify it
5. the stitching that forms the rim of a shoe or boot
6. a short ring fastened over a rod or shaft to limit, guide, or secure a machine part
7. anything worn or placed about the neck
   • the thief was forced to wear a heavy wooden collar
   • a collar of flowers was placed about the neck of the winning horse
8. (zoology) an encircling band or marking around the neck of any animal
9. a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over

Verb

1. furnish with a collar
   • collar the dog
2. seize by the neck or collar
3. take into custody
   • the police nabbed the suspected criminals